Wits Vuvuzela

24/01/2025

IN-DEPTH | Songs of change: The impact of democracy on music copyright law

by Katlego Mtshali

Exploring the evolution of South Africa’s music copyright laws reveals significant shifts in creative rights for artists, particularly during the transition from apartheid to democracy.

The development of music copyright throughout South Africa’s democratic transition in the 1990s demonstrated how musicians battled for recognition and rights in the face of institutionalised persecution.

Exploring the evolution of South Africa’s music copyright laws reveals significant shifts in creative rights for artists, particularly during the transition from apartheid to democracy. The development of music copyright throughout South Africa’s democratic transition in the 1990s demonstrated h...

24/01/2025

IN-DEPTH | Lost in translation: Navigating language and identity in a changing South Africa

by Siyanda Mthethwa

As South Africa celebrates 30 years of democracy, a new challenge surfaces: younger generations losing touch with their home languages. A mix of personal stories and expert opinions show the profound impact on cultural identity for the people affected.

“Akasazi isiZulu [He doesn’t know isiZulu].” That’s often the first thing people say when they ask why I am so quiet. And although there’s a kernel of truth to that, the shame it brings me is overwhelming.

As South Africa celebrates 30 years of democracy, a new challenge surfaces: younger generations losing touch with their home languages. A mix of personal stories and expert opinions show the profound impact on cultural identity for the people affected. “Akasazi isiZulu [He doesn’t know isiZulu]....

24/01/2025

IN-DEPTH | The plate divide: Food inequality in Joburg

by Ruby Delahunt

The right to food is enshrined in the South African Constitution, yet millions of people are still food insecure. In Jo’burg, hunger does not manifest evenly – it is a consequence of inequality, the ghost that haunts this metropolis.

Johannesburg has always been a city of extremes. It was never intended to be an equal city and today it still tears at the seams trying to accommodate the two extreme ends of the economic spectrum – and all the people who fall in between.

The right to food is enshrined in our constitution, yet millions of people are still food insecure. In Joburg, hunger does not manifest evenly – it is a consequence of inequality, the ghost that haunts this metropolis.

23/01/2025

The road to seven distinctions

by: Siyanda Mthethwa

Meet Ngeletshedzo Mutwanamba. She considers herself a simple girl who likes reading and listening to music. But these hobbies and her social life took a back seat so she could achieve something extraordinary.

The Matric Class of 2024 broke numerous records, and one in their number achieved it all at just 16. Meet Ngeletshedzo Mutwanamba. She considers herself a simple girl who likes reading and listening to music. But these hobbies and her social life took a back seat so she could achieve something extra...

23/01/2025

SLICE: A letter to the first years

As terrifying as your new chapter may seem, it will be a worthwhile ride, filled with many highs and evolution.

by: Katlego Mtshali

As terrifying as your new chapter may seem, it will be a worthwhile ride, filled with many highs and evolution. Right now, you’re probably feeling a mixture of excitement, nerves, and maybe even a little fear. I get it—I was in your shoes not too long ago. When I started my first year in 2021

21/01/2025

IN-DEPTH | The collapse of Johannesburg’s service delivery

by Rivaldo Jantjies

Nearly 30 years into democracy, the city of gold’s residents face the harsh reality of a broken service delivery system.

Imagine living in a city that was once hailed as the economic titan of Africa but is now subject to the daily indignity of deteriorating infrastructure. Even after 30 years of democratic governance, persistent power cuts, erratic water supplies, roads riddled with potholes, and uncollected garbage have become unfortunate realities for many Johannesburg residents.

Nearly 30 years into democracy, the city of gold’s residents face the harsh reality of a broken service delivery system. Imagine living in a city that was once hailed as the economic titan of Africa but is now subject to the daily indignity of deteriorating infrastructure. Even after 30 years of d...

21/01/2025

Cry Theatre: Johannesburg’s theatres, from apartheid to democracy

by Ofentse Tladi

Journey through the heartbeat of Johannesburg’s theatre scene, as we trace its transformation from a tool of resistance under apartheid’s harsh censorship to a thriving space for diverse voices and stories in South Africa’s democracy.

The lights dimmed as two figures stood centre stage, gazing over at the crowd. A single spotlight cast long shadows and, for a moment, there was silence. Then, slowly, the haunting notes of Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika rose, not from a choir, but from the audience itself.

Journey through the heartbeat of Johannesburg’s theatre scene, as we trace its transformation from a tool of resistance under apartheid’s harsh censorship to a thriving space for diverse voices and stories in South Africa’s democracy. The lights dimmed as two figures stood centre stage, gazing...

21/01/2025

IN-DEPTH | Social mobility is not a walkable journey

by Thato Gololo

Education breeds success, but for some Born Frees to grasp their promised freedom, parents have to make the difficult decision of placing them in schools outside the township – with or without the government’s help in getting them there.

It is 6am, on a cold, dark morning in the middle of an average 2008 winter. The sun has not yet risen in the cosy three-bedroom Segoale household, yet it is warmed by the steam of multiple drawn baths...

Education breeds success, but for some Born Frees to grasp their promised freedom, parents have to make the difficult decision of placing them in schools outside the township – with or without the government’s help in getting them there. The born-free generation It is 6am, on a cold, dark mornin...

21/01/2025

Welcome aboard Witsie !

byKatlego Mtshali

Looking for accommodation as a first year and confused about living on or off-campus ?

Read the article below as a guide to choose an option that best suits your needs

https://witsvuvuzela.com/2025/01/20/welcome-aboard-new-witsies/

20/01/2025

From shadows to success: Johannesburg's townships are defying economic barriers

by Lona Sokanyile

Thirty years since the dawn of democracy, inequality still lingers beneath Johannesburg’s surface, with township residents often marginalised from the city’s wealth. Despite systemic barriers, individuals in these communities are carving their own paths to a better life.

Thirty years since the dawn of democracy, inequality still lingers beneath Johannesburg’s surface, with township residents often marginalised from the city’s wealth. Despite systemic barriers, individuals in these communities are carving their own paths to a better life. In Johannesburg, the cit...

20/01/2025

IN-DEPTH | Mental healthcare in erratic eGoli

by Tristan Monzeglio

Equitable access to mental healthcare often falls on under-resourced, overburdened, yet empathetic providers struggling to meet demand.

As an overwrought Johannesburg continues to address rampant apartheid hang-ups, the responsibility of ensuring citizens’ equitable access to mental healthcare often falls on under-resourced, overburdened, yet empathetic providers struggling to meet demand. If you’re looking for mental health sup...

18/01/2025

IN_DEPTH | Broken promises behind anti-immigrant sentiments

by Sanele Sithetho

Thirty years after the dawn of democracy, Johannesburg remains a city of profound contradictions.

Thirty years after the dawn of democracy, Johannesburg remains a city of profound contradictions. In 1994, South Africa stood at the threshold of an era that promised equality, freedom and unity under the banner of democracy. The country’s first democratic elections saw the formal dismantling of a...

18/01/2025

IN-DEPTH | South Africa’s football development slowed down by own goals

by Kamogelo Kungwane

From the highs of lifting the Africa Cup of Nations at the FNB stadium to the lows of a false celebration in Nelspruit in 2012 when Pitso Mosimane’s team thought they had qualified for the finals after misreading the rules, South Africa’s football development has experienced mixed fortunes since 1994.

From the highs of lifting the Africa Cup of Nations at the FNB stadium to the lows of a false celebration in Nelspruit in 2012 when Pitso Mosimane’s team thought they had qualified for the finals after misreading the rules, South Africa’s football development has experienced mixed fortunes since...

18/01/2025

IN-DEPTH | Touring the city: Then vs now

by Victoria Hill

The face of tourism has undergone a makeover since the dawn of democracy some 30 years ago, but whether it is a big enough change remains to be seen.

The face of tourism has undergone quite a makeover since the dawn of democracy some 30 years ago; but whether it is a big enough change remains to be seen.

17/01/2025

They may have officially left our newsroom, but the work of the 2024 honours class at the Wits Centre for Journalism lives on in their In-depth Reporting Project, the group explored what 30 years of democracy has meant for Johannesburg and its residents. They produced a range of rich multimedia-driven projects that covered everything from food inequality to copyright laws for musicians.

Read, listen and watch in full here:

20/12/2024

🏆 Lastly, a big congratulations to the winner of the award for Student Journalist of the Year, Ruby Delahunt 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

20/12/2024

🏆 Congratulations to Kabir Jugram who is the student of the year and as such has won the award 👏🏾🥳

20/12/2024

🏆 Congratulations to Sanele Sithetho who is the student of the year 👏🏾🥳